LOCAL GOVERNMENTS

The State Ethics Commission has issued its annual listing of counties and school boards that have presented their ethics programs to the Commission for approval. The Maryland Code Annotated, State Government Article, Sections 15-808 and 15-815 (Supp. 2001) requires the Commission to approve these programs.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT ETHICS LAW STATUS AS OF JANUARY 1, 1999

COUNTIES

As of January 1, 1999, all counties in the State, as well as Baltimore City, have enacted local ethics provisions pursuant to the requirements of State Government Article Sections 15-801 --15-808 and State Ethics Commission regulations at Code of Maryland Regulations (“COMAR”) 19A.04. These provisions cover conflict of interest standards, financial disclosure and lobbying regulation. All jurisdictions have identified a unit within local government to provide advice, process complaints and collect public financial disclosure statements from local officials, candidates for local elected office and employees required to file disclosure. Some jurisdictions have boards of ethics or ethics commissions that have regular staff and can be accessed through the local government telephone directory, and others assign ethics responsibilities to the County Attorney or another local office.

MUNICIPALITIES

As of January 1, 1999, the following municipal corporations in the State have enacted local ethics provisions pursuant to the requirements of State Government Article Sections 15-801 -- 15-808 and State Ethics Commission regulations at COMAR 19A.04. A few of these jurisdictions have been granted partial exemptions in accordance with State Government Article, Sections 15-804 -- 15-806 and COMAR 19A.04.03.03. (See ** to identify these jurisdictions.) For most of these jurisdictions the partial exemption means that the local law does not include lobbying registration and disclosure requirements. Municipalities not included in this list have been exempted in their entirety from the Ethics Law requirements for local ethics laws, though some of these jurisdictions do have ethics provisions meeting the State Law requirements with varying degrees of completeness. All non-exempted jurisdictions have identified a unit within local government to provide advice and receive complaints and collect public financial disclosure statements for local officials, candidates for local elected office and employees required to file disclosure. Some jurisdictions have boards of ethics or ethics commissions that have regular staff and can be accessed through the local government telephone directory, and others have assigned ethics responsibilities to the locality's municipal attorney or to the chief administrative officer (such as a Town Manager or the Clerk). Inquiry to the local attorney or to the administrative office would therefore be suggested for those who have requests for information or advice regarding the application of the local ethics requirements.

Aberdeen, Annapolis, Baltimore City, Barnesville**, Bel Air, Berlin, Berwyn Heights**, Bladensburg, Bowie, Brunswick, Cambridge, Capitol Heights, Centreville, Chestertown, Cheverly, Chevy Chase Village, Church Hill**, College Park, Colmar Manor, Crisfield, Cumberland, Delmar, Denton, District Heights, Easton, Elkton**, Emmitsburg, Fairmont Heights, Federalsburg**, Frederick, Frostburg**, Fruitland**, Gaithersburg, Glenarden, Goldsboro**, Greenbelt, Greensboro**, Hagerstown, Hampstead, Hancock**, Havre de Grace**, Hebron, Hurlock**, Hyattsville, Indian Head, La Plata, Landover, Laurel, Leonardtown, Loch Lynn Heights, Manchester, Martin's Additions**, Midland, Mount Airy, Mount Rainier**, New Carrollton, New Windsor**, North East**, Oakland**, Ocean City, Perryville, Pittsville**, Pocomoke City, Poolesville, Preston**, Princess Anne, Ridgely**, Riverdale Park, Rockville, Salisbury, Seat Pleasant, Snow Hill, St. Michaels, Sykesville, Takoma Park, Taneytown, Thurmont, Trappe, University Park**, Walkersville, Westernport**, Westminster, Williamsport**

TO VIEW INDIVIDUAL MUNICIPALITIES

BOARDS OF EDUCATION ETHICS LAW STATUS AS OF JANUARY 1, 1999

Sections 15-811 -- 15-815 of the Public Ethics Law (State Government Article, Title 15, Annotated Code of Maryland) provide that local boards of education are subject to the requirements of their county ethics provisions unless the local board of education, with the approval of the Ethics Commission, adopts regulations (See COMAR 19A.05). All local boards have enacted local ethics provisions pursuant to the requirements of State Government Article Sections 15-811 -- 15-815 and State Ethics Commission regulations at COMAR 19A.05. These provisions cover conflict of interest standards, financial disclosure, and lobbying and have established an ethics panel or identified a unit within the school system to provide advice, receive complaints, and collect financial disclosure statements for board officials, candidates for board official if the board is elected, and employees required to file disclosure. Most jurisdictions delegate to the school system attorney or administrative unit within the Office of the Superintendent responsibilities for assistance to the board ethics panel. Inquiry to one of these offices would therefore be suggested for those who have requests for information or advice regarding the application of the school system's ethics requirements.